Method and assembly for linking the ends of material



0ct. 18, 1966 J. L.. HARPER 3,279,090

METHOD AND ASSEMBLY FOR LINKING THE ENDS OF MATERIAL Filed Deo. 6, 1965 40 4 s lo 39 '2f 38 2 23|850/6 22 375556 [7 551446 l2 JM/ss L. HARPER JWM ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,279,090 METHOD AND ASSEMBLY FOR LINKING THE ENDS F MATERIAL James L. Harper, Jesnp, Ga., assignor to Nasworthy Fasteners Inc., Savannah, Ga., a corporation of Georgia Filed Dec. 6, 1963, Ser. No. 328,614 Claims. (Cl. S4-95) This invention relates to a method and assembly for linking the ends of material and more .particularly refers to a method and an assembly for joining the end of drier felts to make the felts continuous.

The general object of this invention is to provide an improved method for linking the ends of material, particularly drier felts.

Another general object is the provision of an improved joint assembly for linking the ends of material, particularly drier felts.

A specific object of an improved joint for not mar the paper carried .t-hereby.

A particular object is to provide a drier felt joint which is resistant to abrasion and is durable in repeated use.

Another particular object `of this invention is to provide an improved method and joint for drier felts which prolongs the useful life -of the felt by reducing the replacement cost of such felt and by substantially reducing the cost of frequent shutdown ofthe paper making machines :and mill.

'I'he continuous drier felts in the paper making machines are subjected to repeated flexing during travel thereof around lthe many heated rolls or cylinders of the machine, and considerable difficulty is encountered in making a durable joint which connects the ends of the felts. The ends of the ordinary felts are susceptible to fraying and raveling, particularly the modern synthetic m-aterial felts. This invention provides a joint which substantially alleviates the aforementioned difficulty and is particularly useful in joining the ends of the modern synthetic material felts.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with .particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, howeve-r, both as to lits organization and method of operation, to- -gether with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which;

the present invention is to provide FIGURE l is a fragmentary perspective view of a felt,

showing a joint linking the ends of the felt in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side sectional View of the joint of FIG- URE l on an enlarged scale; and

FIGURE 3 is a partial FIGURE 2, showing a modification of the joint in accordance with the invention.

Referring more particularly to .the drawings, FIGURE 1 illustrates the end portions 10 and 11 of the elongated sheet material or drier felt 12 linked -togetber by the assembly, generally indicated at 13. The ends 19 and 20 of the felt 12 are cut square and are spaced apart by an elongated narrow strip member 16 of felt material, as shown in FIGURES l and 2.

The joint assembly of this invention will be evident from consideration of FIGURE 2. The assembly 13 includes an upper exible sheet material connecting member 14, a lower flexible sheet material connecting member 15, a narrow elongated exible strip member 16, and connecting means, Igenerally depicted at 17, for attaching sheet materials 14 and 15 to felt end portion 11, end portion 11 being nested between sheet materials 14 and 15. Conthe ends of a drier felt which does side sectional View similar to ice necting means, generally depicted at 18 is provided for positioning and maintaining -strip member 16 with its side 22 adjacent the end -19 `of felt 12. The connecting means 18 may include waterproof glue or cement which attaches strip member 16 to lsheet materials 14 and 15, or stitches extending through and attaching she-et materials 14 and 15 -to strip member 16 (not shown), or stitches 55 extending through sheet materials 14 and 15 on either side of strip member 16 as shown in detail by the modiiication of the joint, as shown in FIGURE 3. The other end 20 of felt 12 is spaced adjacent side 23 -of strip member 16, and end portion 10 of felt 12 is nestably positioned between sheet materials 14 vand 15 and attached thereto by connecting means, generally depicted at 21.

Sheet member 14 overlies adjacently positioned and spaced end portions 10 and 11, sheet member 15 underlying such end portions. The flexible strip member 16 is positioned within the space or hollow defined between ends 20 and 19 and between sheet members 14 and 15. Sheet member 14 is provided wit-h a spanning portion 26 crossing felt end portion 11 land strip member 16, and sheet member 15 is similarly provided with a spanning .portion 27. Spanning portions 26 and 27 of respective sheet member 14 and 15 constitutes a pliable hinge means between felt end portion 11 and strip member 1-6. Sheet members 14 and 15 are provided with .respective other spanning portions 28 and 29 which extend 'between strip member 16 and felt end portion 10 constituting another pliable hinge means therebetween. Sheet member 14 includes a connecting portion 30 for attaching spanning portions 26 and 28 together, and sheet member l15 includes a similar connecting portion 31 lbetween its spanning portions 27 and 29. The two pliable hinge means of the felt substantially lessens and reduces the working of `the felt end portions at the j-oint thereof as joint passes around the cylindrical rolls ofthe paper making machine.

Connecting means 17 attaches sheet materials 14 and 15 to the leading felt end portion 11, and preferably includes waterproof glue or cement at `33 :and 34 and a row 35 of double-headed, double-pronged rivets 36 driven through upper .sheet member 14, felt end portion 11 and lower sheet member 1'5. An asbestos cushioning tape 37 and the rivets 36 are provided in the typical manner, for example, such as described in United States Patent No. 2,976,537, to Hart.

Connecting means 21 for attaching the lagging felt end 10 to sheet material 14 and 15 preferably -includes a plurality of rows 38, 39 and 40 of rivets 41, 42 and 43, rows 38, 39 and 40 being identical to row 35 hereinabove described.

Sheet material 14 has a lower face 45 which is attached by glue to felt end portion 11, and an upper face 46 which underlies tape 37. The end 47 tapers from the lower glued face t-o the upper face and toward the opposite end 48 of sheet material 14 thereby presenting a gradual increase in thickness of the joint assembly 13 at the leading `end portion 11 of felt 12. Such a joint construction being effective to substantially prevent marring .of the paper which is carried by the felt. End 48 tapers downwardly and rearwardly to present a gradual decrease in thickness of the joint lassembly 13. Sheet material 14 is provided with similar tapered ends 49 and 50 substantially identical to the aforementioned tapered ends 47 and 48 of sheet material 14.

The modified embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIGURE 3 wherein stitches 55 extend through sheet materials 56 and 57 =on either of the sides 58 and 59 of strip member 60 for maintaining such strip member in Iits selected position within hollow 61. It is to be specically understood that the stitches may also extend through strip member 60, if desired. Furthermore, the Waterproof glue or cement may be used with the stitches disclosed in FIGURE 3 without departing from the spirit or scope of the `present invention.

The nonrnal drier felts, which is linked by the joint assembly in accordance with this invention, may have a width of approximately 21 feet and a length of'1100 feet or more. The drier felt may comprise a woven fabric web of cotton, asbestos, glass, nylon, polyester or other natural or synthetic strands. The strip member 16 may be an elongated narrow portion of the drier felt or may be of a different materi-al and, if desired, may have a thickness slightly greater than the drier felt to be linked thereby. Similarly the sheet members 14 and 15 may be of the same material as the drier felt, however, it is desirable that such sheet members be sized to impart stiffness thereto and 'thereby lessening buckling of the joint.

The method and joint in accord with the invention is made by attaching .lead end portion 11 of the felt 12 by glue or cement between theupper and lower exible sheet material connectors 14 and 15 and attaching a row 35 of rivets 36 therethrough for increased strength. The narrow strip member 16, having a width dimensionbetween 1A; and 3A inches, is positioned adjacent the lead end portion 11 of the felt 12 a predetermined distance, the space therebetween to be minimized to prevent unnecessary ,impressions` and marring of the paper carried on the felt. End 19 'of lead end portion'll may abut side 22 of strip member 16, thus minimizing the distance between ends 19 4and 20 of felt 12. The strip member 16 `is attached, either by glue, between the sheet material connectors 14 and 15,fas shown in FIGUREZ, or by stitches, to maintain it in a relatively xed position, as shown in FIGURE 3. It is understood that the stitches 1n FIGURE 3 may also extend through strip mem-ber 16, if desired. At the paper mill and subsequent to the felt being placed on and aroundthe cylindrical rolls, Ythe lagging end portion of the felt is positioned between Vthe sheet material connectors 14 and 15 adjacent the strip member 16 `and is attached thereto by a plurality of rows 38, 39 and 40 of rivets 41, 42 and 43 are driven therethrough thereby making the felt continuous. Felt end may abut side 23 of strip member 116 similar to previously described The elongated present invention to be joined, and

drier'felt 12 in Aaccordance with the includes ltwo end portions 10 and 11 a pair of lexible sheet members 14 and felt end 19 and strip member side 22.'

15 nestably engages therebetween end portion 11 which Y vis connected thereto. The exible strip member 16 is positioned adjacent the end 19 of felt end portion 11, strip member 16 being nested between sheet members 14 'and 15. Connecting means in the form `of glue and/or stitches is provided for maintaining strip member 116 adjacent end 19 .of 14 and 15 extend outwardly from the connection with felt end portion, across the strip member 16 Iand .terminate in respective ap portions 52 and 53 therebeyond.l Flap portions 52 and 53 are adapted Iand arranged for the reception therebetween of felt end portion 10 and for connection thereto for forming a continuous drier felt with felt end portions 10 and 11 joined. The means for connecting Hap portions 52 and 53 is depicted at 21 and has been described, hereinabove.

While only certain preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown and described by way of illustration, manyy modications will occur to those skilled in the art and it is, therefore,. desired that it be understood that it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fallwithin the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A method of joining the end portions of a drier felt comprising positioning an elongated ilexible strip member felt end portion 11. Sheet members between a pair of spaced elongated flexible `.connecting members, attaching said. strip member to eachiof said connecting members along its length thereof between the end parts of said connecting members, positioning one said felt end portion adjacentone said elongated side. of said strip member and between `said connecting members, attaching one said end part of each of said connecting members to said one felt end portion, positioning the V.other said felt end portion adjacent the other said elongated side of said -strip member betweensaid connecting members, and attaching the other said end part of each of said kconnecting members to said other felt end portion.`

2. A joint assembly comprising two iexible sheet material end portions spaced apart a predetermined distance, a ilexible strip member positioned between said end portions, a exible sheet member connected to each said end portion, means attached to said sheet member. for positioning and maintaining said strip member in `its position, said sheet member having a portion spanning between said strip member and one said end portion and constituting a pliable hinge, said sheet member having anotherpOrtion spanning between said stripmember and the other said end portion and constituting another pliable hinge.y

3. A joint assembly for a exible drier felt having two end portions vto be joined comprising a exible sheetimember connected to each said end portion of said drier felt and adjacently positioning said end portions in spaced apart relation, a exible strip member positioned between said end portions, means attached to said sheetmember for positioning and maintaining said strip member between said end portions, said sheet member having a portion constituting a pliable hinge between one said end portion and said strip member and having another portion constituting another pliable hinge between the other said end portion and said strip member.

4. vA joint assembly comprising two ilexible strip material end portions spaced apart a predetermined distance, a ilexible strip member positioned between l.said end portions, a first hinge means connected to one said end portion and adapted for connection with said strip member, a second hinge means attached to the other said end-por tion and adapted for connection with said strip member, connecting means for attaching said first and second hinge means, and means attached to said connecting means for maintaining said strip member between said end portions.

tuting a pliable hinge therebetween, said sheet member; between the other said end portion and strip member constituting another pliable` i having another spanning portion hinge therebetween.

6. A joint assembly for a ilexible drier felt having `two end portions to be joined comprising a pair of ilexible sheet members, one said sheet member overlying adjacent- 1 ly positioned and spaced said end portions, the other` said sheet member underlying said adajcently positioned and` spaced end portions, connecting means for attaching said sheet member and said other sheet member to said end portions, a exible strip member positioned in the space defined between said end portionsand between said sheet member and said other sheet member, each said sheet member having a spanning portion between one said end portion and said strip member constituting a pliablehinge` means therebetween, each 'said sheet member having another spanning portion between the other said end portion and said strip member constituting another` pliable hinge means therebetween. Y

7. The joint assembly as defined in claim 6 further comprising means attached to one said sheet member for` maintaining said strip member in its space.

8. An elongated drier felt having two ends to be joined comprising a flexible sheet member connected to said felt and extending outwardly from one said felt end, a flexible strip member positioned adjacent said one felt end, means attached to said sheet member for maintaining said strip member adjacent said one felt end, said sheet member including a ap portion extending outwardly beyond said strip member and adapted and arranged for attachment to the other said felt end thereby forming a continuous drier felt.

9. An elongated drier felt having two end portions t0 be joined comprising a pair of exible sheet members, one said end portion being positioned between said exible sheet members, means for attaching said flexible sheet members to said one felt end portion, a exible strip member positioned adajcent the end of one said felt end portion vand nested between saidk sheet members, means attached to one of said sheet members for maintaining said strip member adjacent said end of said one felt end portion, each of said sheet members extending from the connection with said one felt end portion outwardly across said strip member and terminating in a iiap portion therebeyond, said ap portions being `adapted and arranged for the reposition within said to one end portion of said ception therebetween of the other said felt end portion and connection thereto thereby forming a continuous drier felt.

410. A method of joining the end portions of a exible material sheet comprising attaching one end part of each of a pair of spaced elongated flexible connecting members material sheet, positioning an elongated flexible strip member between Isaid connecting members and between the end parts `of said connecting members and closely adjacent said one end portion of said material sheet, aixing said strip member to each of said connecting members, positioning the other said sheet material end portion closely adjacent said strip member between said connecting members, and attaching the other said end part of each of said connecting member to said other sheet material end portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/ 1882 Sutherland 24-38 3/1961 Hart 20'6-56 

1. A METHOD OF JOINING THE END PORTIONS OF A DRIER FELT COMPRISING POSITIONING AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE STRIP MEMBER BETWEEN A PAIR OF SPACED ELONGATED FLEXIBLE CONNECTING MEMBERS, ATTACHING SAID STRIP MEMBER TO EACH OF SAID CONNECTING MEMBERS ALONG ITS LENGTH THEREOF BETWEEN THE END PARTS OF SAID CONNECTING MEMBERS, POSITIONING ONE SAID FELT END PORTION ADJACENT ONE SAID ELONGATED SIDE OF SAID STRIP MEMBER AND BETWEEN SAID CONNECTING MEMBERS, ATTACHING ONE SAID END PART OF EACH OF SAID CONNECTING MEMBERS TO SAID ONE FELT END PORTION, POSITIONING THE OTHER SAID FELT END PORTION ADJACENT THE OTHER SAID ELONGATED SIDE OF SAID STRIP MEMBER BETWEEN SAID CONNECTING MEMBERS AND ATTACHING THE OTHR SAID END PART OF EACH OF SAID CONNECTING MEMBERS TO SAID OTHER FELT END PORTION. 